In connection with the European Maritime Day Conference taking place in Gdańsk on 19 May 2011 which was attended, inter alia, Cezary Grabarczyk - Polish Minister of Infrastructure, Pál Völner - Hungarian Minister for Infrastructure, Commissioner - Maria Damanaki, Efthimios E. Mitropoulos - Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization, Mieczysław Struk - Marshal of the Pomeranian Province and Pawel Adamowicz - Mayor of Gdansk, the union held picket against the situation in the Polish maritime economy.

Polish Seafarers’ Union submitted the following postulates:

Immediate review of the proceedings in respect of the inland and deep sea fisheries, and to clearly define the state policy for these sectors,

the urgent development and practical implementation of the program for the Polish national shipping and deep sea fisheries,

increase spending on maritime safety, including no Service Search and Rescue and fire protection in ports.

Polish Seafarers’ Union protested against:

degradation of marine and fishing fleet

cutting social spending,

lack of social dialogue in maritime transport,

belt-tightening policies, restrictions, and wage differential in wages in the maritime administration,

the way of the privatization of towing companies.

We would like to thank all PSU members for participating in the picket!